Just a reminder. Take care of your gear.

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dust_101

Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
399
Location
WV
So after quite a few years the family and I are in a solid, stable part of life. Now I get to start heading back to the range, which I am very pleased with. Over the past few years I had been making it a point to review my firearms and oil them once a year or so since they never made it out of the safe. All is well...

Then I finally go to the range today. Got out my newly finished AR15, planned to sight it in, some sample ammo boxes in hand, assembling my range bag, getting all ready to go... and oh wait, let me grab my hearing protection.

Damn.

wflp9fyl.jpg

:banghead:

Folks, I am sharing this as a reminder to everyone, make sure you don't just take care of your firearms, but also take care of your gear. Batteries out, desiccant packs loaded, cleaned and set.

Don't be like me and have to toss out a $70 set of Peltors because you were too dumb to take out the batteries.

Already have a new set (surefire ep7 and some howard leights) on the way, but I felt like sharing. Maybe it will help someone else avoid the whoops that I have done.

PS. Oh I did forget how FUN it is to own an AR15, deadnuts accurate too. :D
 
Crap I haven't used my Peltors in about 5 years. I bet they look JUST like that. :banghead:
 
I just checked my old school Remington muffs, they're in perfect condition. So I checked my supply of foam earplugs just to be safe, all good! :evil:
 
^^ Yup. My old North Gun Muffler set is still pretty much pristine, despite having been in my possession since around 1986..!

But, yeah, good reminder. Batteries often appear in laser sights, red-dot sights, and gun lights as well.
 
Here's a tip: if you have a Maglite and the batteries corrode and expand in it causing the batteries to be unable to be removed, send the useless flashlight to Maglite. They have agreements with several battery companies. They'll remove the batteries, and if it's a brand they work with, they'll replace the light for free and ship you a new one.

Worked for me.
 
Before tossing them try using some water and baking soda on the corrosion first then clean up and let dry thoroughly. Might come back to life.
 
I'm not even sure replacing battery's once a year does any good.

I had a brand new pack of Duracell AA's where one leaked like that and ruined three others in the package next to it.

Alkaline seem to be especially bad about it.
Lithium not so much.

rc
 
I did try to salvage these, they were a nice set of muffs. Scrubbed off enough corrosion to get power working but the right side (pictured) had enough damage to the circuit board that is not recoverable.

I used to be the type to remove the batteries after each range trip, need to get back into that habit.
 
Not surprised to see it was Duracells. Every flashlight or other electrical device I've had ruined in the last 10 years or so has been from Duracells. Used to be the best quality battery out there, now they are rubbish.
 
Funny this shows up now. Just last week I took batteries out of cameras that are not in use. And here you are having to deal with electronics/battery problems.

Re-think your list. Have you forgotten anything? :D

Mark
 
For AA and AAA sizes, I've switched completely away from alkaline to the Low Self Discharge rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries ('Eneloop' is one brand name). Their chemistry doesn't corrode through the case.

As an additional benefit, you don't have the old 'should I replace the half used batteries before the match' conundrum; you just put in topped up batteries and recharge the half used ones.

FWIW, I don't think coin type batteries corrode through the case either, at least I've never had any do that; I've only seen alkaline (and the old zinc) batteries leak.
 
Lithium batteries cost more but won't leak like that - plus they keep longer and last several times longer in use so they almost always pay for themselves. I use my electronic muffs often and cannot remember last time I changed the batteries. GPS stays going for over a week instead of a day - day1/2. They are also not affected by very cold temperatures either. Give them a try.
 
rcmodel said:
I'm not even sure replacing battery's once a year does any good.

I had a brand new pack of Duracell AA's where one leaked like that and ruined three others in the package next to it.

Alkaline seem to be especially bad about it.
Lithium not so much.

rc
Click to expand...
Had a new pack of D cells do the same thing.

Also a new AA in a gun vault leaked and fried the circuitry, so the button combo wouldn't open it anymore. Thankfully the key works just fine. And it taught me to go with a FAS1 as it's all mechanical, no battery to fail and leak.

Just always good to remove batteries from anything you don't plan to use for a while, and periodically check them.
 
pintler said:
For AA and AAA sizes, I've switched completely away from alkaline to the Low Self Discharge rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries ('Eneloop' is one brand name). Their chemistry doesn't corrode through the case.

As an additional benefit, you don't have the old 'should I replace the half used batteries before the match' conundrum; you just put in topped up batteries and recharge the half used ones.

FWIW, I don't think coin type batteries corrode through the case either, at least I've never had any do that; I've only seen alkaline (and the old zinc) batteries leak.
Click to expand...
I've seen coin type batteries leak. Not as severely, but I've seen them with crusty stuff in the creases, and saw one in a package once that was kind of bulged a bit.
 
What others said. In all my life essential gear (flashlights, gun lights, red dots, etc.), I always use lithium batteries. They last longer, are more temperature resistant, and never leak and destroy my equipment. They do cost more, but they really are worth it.

Save the alkalines for things that get constant use and will be switched out before they leak. TV remotes, wireless keyboards and mouse, etc.
 
Use lithium batteries wherever possible. Alkaline batteries suck. They also leak and ruin stuff.
 
Used to be back in the day that if batteries leaked and damaged anything, you sent it to the battery manufacturer and they would replace it. May have only applied to flashlights because that is what mostly had batteries back in the day. Not sure on that.
 
I dunno about all the reliability factor claims insofar as using time for lithium batteries.....

As my handle hereon suggests I run dogs....walker hounds specifically....and I use one of the Garmin co.'s satellite trackers to try to keep up with these wide ranging dogs. I initially tried lithium re chargables from several mfgrs and finally decided to return to the alkaline type as the working life of the former amounted to but a half day in actual practice. Good alkalines will make it thru at least one full day (dawn to dark) of virtually continual use before I toss 'em.

Be your own judge, but at least in my instance I'll stay where I'm at until I am made aware of increased usability time...........frankly for me it's a lot easier and probably a wash in terms of cash outlay to just pick up a 20 plus pack of AA Duracells.

I do totally agree with the op's advice on frequent check and change.......I NEVER leave my gear with any power source installed when I intend storing it for any extended period.
 
dogrunner said:
I dunno about all the reliability factor claims insofar as using time for lithium batteries.....

As my handle hereon suggests I run dogs....walker hounds specifically....and I use one of the Garmin co.'s satellite trackers to try to keep up with these wide ranging dogs. I initially tried lithium re chargables from several mfgrs and finally decided to return to the alkaline type as the working life of the former amounted to but a half day in actual practice. Good alkalines will make it thru at least one full day (dawn to dark) of virtually continual use before I toss 'em.

Be your own judge, but at least in my instance I'll stay where I'm at until I am made aware of increased usability time...........frankly for me it's a lot easier and probably a wash in terms of cash outlay to just pick up a 20 plus pack of AA Duracells.
Click to expand...

We are talking lithium primary batteries, for AA/AAA that would be energizer. Not rechargeable li-ion.

If alkaline batteries can supply the power required then nimh rechargeable would probably be your best bet...Eneloop is probably what you seek
 
FWIW - I have used rechargeable Ni-Cads in several different 35mm flashes for over 30 years and none of them ever leaked. I also used them in some frequently used flashlights but the way they lost their charges made them unacceptable for rarely used equipment. The nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeables hold their charges slightly better and they don't have the "memory" problems the ni-cads were famous for having.

The alkalines I have used over that same time have varied in brands from the Big Three (Everready, Duracell, & Rayovac) to private label secondary market ones (Walgreens, CVS, etc.). All have had leaks at one time or another but I have no record of any one brand failing more than any other. What I HAVE observed is the cheap off-brand types don't seem to have the reserve capacity of the Big Three. Usually, the Rayovacs are slightly lower in price than the Everready or Duracells batteries with comparable capacity.

The lithium "single use" batteries are fine for sitting on the shelf and still holding their charges for a long time but if used in something with a motor, they seem to fail almost as fast as alkalines. They are great in "low draw" equipment (lights) but not so good in "point & shoot" cameras, esp. if you turn it on & off frequently or zoom in & out a lot. Some of the flashlights & lanterns I have use "C" or "D" sizes and I have yet to see lithiums in those sizes.

This is just a personal observation. I have not bothered to keep any kind of record of this, so - - -. :rolleyes:
 
Sometimes when the batteries leak and corrode everything the item can be salvaged. I have done it with electrical meters, radios and flashlights.
If you have something you're about to throw at ay give me shhout, maybe I can save it for you. Iam on social security disability and try to supplement my income by doing side jobs.
So keep me in mind guys and gals.
Thanks.:cool:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Best possible active hearing protection?
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
dwstone1227
dwstone1227
P
  • Locked
I just got reminded
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
mustang_steve
M
J
  • Locked
How do you take care of your holsters?
Replies
2
Views
713
Dave Workman
D
J
Actualizing Anchorite's text reminder - Hey dummy don't forget to lock up your gun
Replies
1
Views
289
jmorris
jmorris
J
  • Locked
Just a reminder: Check the damn barrel.
Replies
8
Views
1K
Packman
P
Back
Top